GM/JATCO Redevelopment Advisory Board Meeting Summary - July 23, 2026

The GM/JATCO Redevelopment Advisory Board met on July 23, 2026 (agenda date July 22) to review community engagement results from a visioning workshop and online survey, discuss the project design phase, and finalize logistics for an upcoming community design workshop. Key decisions included approving the previous meeting minutes, setting the design workshop for October 14, 2026, and advancing a direct mail and email outreach strategy.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of May 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes: Motion by Nathan Burkhard, seconded by Aaron Klipstein. All members present voted in favor; motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lisa McAfee suggested the city could develop a city-owned, solar-powered greenhouse on the site to generate revenue by selling electricity back to Alliant Energy, using that profit to fund cleanup and other site improvements.

Discussion Items

• Visioning Workshop and Survey Summary: Amy Warshaw of Stantec presented engagement updates. Approximately 200 people attended the visioning workshop, and the survey received 1,209 responses. The workshop showed industrial use as the highest priority, followed by housing and commercial; the survey flipped, with recreation/green space and commercial ranking higher. Common themes included trail connectivity, grocery store demand (food desert), affordable and diverse housing (studio/1-bedroom units, starter homes), light industrial/manufacturing, and environmental sustainability. Public feedback on the survey indicated confusion over the term "affordable housing." The board discussed the need to combine data sets, consider market viability, and incorporate feedback from stakeholder interviews. A board member noted the challenge of getting unconstrained thoughts from the public and suggested ways to encourage more open input.
• Project Design Phase: Amy outlined the design process using examples from other projects. Steps include creating an opportunities and constraints map, land use mapping, developing three concept sketches, refining a preferred concept, and producing photorealistic renderings and phasing plans. The GM/JATCO site is expected to follow this process, with the design workshop serving as a key public feedback point.
• Design Workshop Date and Location: The board reviewed alternative dates after the original September 22 date was unavailable. Preferred dates were October 7 and 14; the board agreed on October 14 (Wednesday). Location discussion favored the UAW hall (near the site) over the library, citing proximity and accessibility. Nick agreed to contact the UAW hall and the school district (UROC) as backups. The workshop will run 1.5 to 2 hours in an open-house format, with no formal survey component. A board member requested a post-workshop debrief for board members, which was supported.
• Communication and Outreach Strategy: Nick presented a draft direct mail boundary covering approximately 776 properties (later noted as an undercount). Board members suggested expanding the boundary to include the Fourth Ward and Woodland Heights, and ensuring options for paper surveys for those without internet access. Nick will refine the boundary using GIS and use the city's registered voter email list (used to promote the survey, reaching ~14,000 accounts) along with the constant contact list server for additional notifications.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Minutes of May 27, 2026 meeting.
• Decided: Design workshop will be held Wednesday, October 14, 2026, tentatively at the UAW hall (to be confirmed).
• Directives: City staff to finalize the mailer boundary, proceed with a direct mail and email campaign for the workshop, and explore offering paper surveys at the event. Staff will also coordinate with the board on a post-workshop debrief.
• Next Steps: Stantec will incorporate feedback into land use concepts and prepare three design alternatives for the October workshop. The board will receive updated materials via SharePoint and the city website.